3686 Federal Register / Vol. 63, No. 16 / Monday, January 26, 1998 / Proposed Rules

broadcast signals by Satellite Master

Antenna Television systems were

eligible for section 111 licensing). The

authority to issue a determination in

this proceeding is derived from the

Office’s rulemaking authority under 17

U.S.C. 702.

The objections to EchoStar’s petition

filed by ALTV, NASA and NAB all

counsel against the Copyright Office

opening a rulemaking proceeding at this

time, preferring instead to resolve the

matter through legislation. There is no

question that legislative resolution of

the issue of local-into-local

retransmissions of network stations

under section 119 is the best solution.

The Office has recommended to

Congress that section 119 be clarified to

allow local-into-local retransmission.

Library of Congress, U.S. Copyright

Office, A Review of the Copyright

Licensing Regimes Covering

Retransmission of Broadcast Signals

119–120 (August 1, 1997). In the

meantime, however, the Office believes

that it should exercise its duties and

responsibilities under section 702 of the

Copyright Act and open this

rulemaking.

Issues for Public Comment

As presented by Echostar’s petition,

the question of whether local-into-local

retransmissions of network signals is

permissible turns on the interpretation

to be afforded the definition of an

‘‘unserved household.’’ Section

119(a)(2)(B) provides that the satellite

compulsory license for retransmission

of network signals is ‘‘limited to

secondary transmissions to persons who

reside in unserved households.’’ Section

119(d)(10) defines an ‘‘unserved

household’’ as:

a household that—

(A) cannot receive through the use of a

conventional outdoor rooftop receiving

antenna, an over-the-air signal of grade B

intensity (as defined by the Federal

Communications Commission) of a primary

network station affiliated with that network,

and

(B) has not, within 90 days before the date

on which that household subscribes, either

initially or on renewal, to receive secondary

transmissions by a satellite carrier of a

network station affiliated with that network,

subscribed to a cable system that provides

the signal of a primary network station

affiliated with that network.

17 U.S.C. 119(d)(10).

In interpreting the ‘‘unserved

household’’ definition, the primary

question is: Was it the intention of

Congress to prevent all satellite

retransmissions of a network station

when a subscriber can receive an offthe-air grade B intensity signal of the

local network station, or was Congress

attempting to exclude only distant

network stations of the same network

that might be imported by a satellite

carrier into the local affiliate’s market?

Is there anything in the legislative

history that offers guidance on this

question? If not, does subsection (B)’s

prevention of satellite retransmission

when a subscriber is receiving the local

network station via cable have any

bearing on this issue?

If local-into-local retransmissions of

network stations are permissible under

section 119, how should a network

station’s local market be defined? Is the

local market definition in section

119(d)(11) appropriate, or should some

other measure be used?

In addition, the Copyright office is

interested in receiving comment as to

what impact, if any, local-into-local

retransmissions of network stations by

satellite would have on retransmission

consent and other provisions and

requirements of the Communications

Act, 47 U.S.C. ch. 5.

The Copyright Office welcomes and

encourages comments as to these

questions, and well as any other matters

that commenting parties may deem

relevant.

Dated: January 21, 1998.

Marybeth Peters,

Register of Copyrights.

[FR Doc. 98–1795 Filed 1–23–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 1410–31–M

ENVIRONMENTAL PROTECTION

AGENCY

40 CFR Chapter I

[OPP–00473C; FRL–5767–3]

Antimicrobial Rule Development;

Stakeholder Meetings

AGENCY: Environmental Protection

Agency (EPA).

ACTION: Notice of Meetings.

SUMMARY: The Antimicrobials Division

(AD) of the Office of Pesticide Programs

of EPA is continuing its series of

stakeholder meetings to obtain views

about the antimicrobial rule that is

being developed. The rule is being

revised in accordance with principles

set forth in the Food Quality Protection

Act of 1996 (Pub. L. 104–170). To

ensure that all interested parties can

obtain information about activities

related to developing this rule, EPA, in

its discretion, has opened a docket in

advance of the rule’s proposal. This

docket includes, but is not limited to, a

summary of major discussions at

stakeholder meetings, as well as copies

of any documents distributed at these

meetings.

DATES: The next stakeholder meetings

will take place on Tuesday, February 3,

1998, from 2 p.m. to 5 p.m.; and

Thursday, March 26, 1998, from 2 p.m.

to 5 p.m.

ADDRESSES: The meetings will be held at

1921 Jefferson Davis Highway (Crystal

Mall #2) in Room 1126 (‘‘Fishbowl’’),

Arlington, VA.

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT: By

mail: Barbara Mandula (7510W),

Environmental Protection Agency, 401

M St., SW., Washington, DC 20460.

Office location and telephone number:

Sixth Floor, Crystal Station #1, 2800

Crystal Drive, Arlington, VA, (703) 308–

7378, fax: (703) 308–8481; e-mail:

mandula.barbara@epamail.epa.gov.

SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION: This

notice announces a series of public

meetings to ensure that all parties

interested in policies, issues, and

regulatory actions affecting

antimicrobial pesticides can obtain

information about ongoing activities.

Additionally, a public record has been

established for these meetings under

docket number ‘‘OPP–00473.’’ The

docket is available for inspection from

8:30 a.m. to 4 p.m., Monday through

Friday, excluding legal holidays. The

public record is located in Rm. 119 of

the Public Information and Records

Integrity Branch, Information Resources

and Services Division (7502C), Office of

Pesticide Programs, Environmental

Protection Agency, Crystal Mall #2,

1921 Jefferson Davis Highway,

Arlington, VA. Copies of EPA

documents may be obtained by

contacting: Public Information and

Records Integrity Branch, Information

Resources and Services Division

(7502C), Office of Pesticide Programs,

Environmental Protection Agency, 401

M St., SW, Washington, DC 20460.

List of Subjects

Environmental protection,

Antimicrobial pesticides.

Dated: January 15, 1998.

Frank Sanders,

Director, Antimicrobials Division, Office of

Pesticide Programs.

[FR Doc. 98–1767 Filed 1–23–98; 8:45 am]

BILLING CODE 6560–50–F